Welcome to Neptune, the god of the sky! Although many of our solar system's planets have been named after gods or goddesses, Neptune is probably one of the more common and well-known names. It is also now the furthest planet from the sun, since Pluto lost its seat as the ninth planet. It is also the fourth of the gas giant planets, and one of the ice giants as well. One of the interesting things about Neptune is that its orbit around the sun is a bit spastic (in other words, it doesn't orbit the sun the same way twice... sort of). Due to another planet's gravitational effects, Neptune orbits the sun like a whiffle ball would fly in a wind storm. Although Neptune contains the same gases as Jupiter and Saturn (hydrogen and helium), it also contains frozen water, methane, and ammonia. This is very similar to the make-up of Uranus' surface and atmosphere. They are considered "twins" by many astronomers. Although, Neptune is a beautiful blue color, complete with active weather systems/patterns, the freezing temperatures and abundance of ammonia and methane should make for a very inhospitable environment. It looks as though it is time to travel on to the next planet. Distance from the sun: About 4,500,000,000 km (about 3,000,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 112,586 times. Distance from Earth: About 4,400,000,000 km (about 2,700,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 11,000 times. Planetary Make-up: Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, water, and Ammonia are the primary substances. Moons: 13 known moons, as of 2010. Five of these have just been discovered since 2003. Names of the moons: Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Psamathe, and Neso. How Neptune got its name: Named after the Roman god of the sea, Neptune.
Although Neptune contains the same gases as Jupiter and Saturn (hydrogen and helium), it also contains frozen water, methane, and ammonia. This is very similar to the make-up of Uranus' surface and atmosphere. They are considered "twins" by many astronomers. Although, Neptune is a beautiful blue color, complete with active weather systems/patterns, the freezing temperatures and abundance of ammonia and methane should make for a very inhospitable environment. It looks as though it is time to travel on to the next planet.
Distance from the sun: About 4,500,000,000 km (about 3,000,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 112,586 times.
Distance from Earth: About 4,400,000,000 km (about 2,700,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 11,000 times.
Planetary Make-up: Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, water, and Ammonia are the primary substances.
Moons: 13 known moons, as of 2010. Five of these have just been discovered since 2003.
Names of the moons: Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Psamathe, and Neso.
How Neptune got its name: Named after the Roman god of the sea, Neptune.